Washington State Military Department

{{Short description|Branch of state government in Washington, US}}

{{about|the state of Washington|the Union Army|Department of Washington|the U.S. Army|United States Army Military District of Washington|the U.S. Navy|Naval District Washington}}

{{Use mdy dates|date=July 2024}}

File:Washington National Guard fights fires.jpg is trained to fight forest fires.]]

The Washington State Military Department is a branch of the state government of Washington, United States.

The Washington State Military Department has several major operational divisions:

  • Washington Emergency Management Division{{Cite web|title = National Guard |publisher=Washington State Military Department|url = http://mil.wa.gov/emergency-management-division|access-date = February 28, 2016}}
  • Washington Army National Guard{{Cite web|title = National Guard |publisher=Washington State Military Department|url = http://mil.wa.gov/national-guard|website = mil.wa.gov|access-date = November 24, 2015}}
  • Washington Air National Guard
  • Washington State Guard{{Cite web|title = State Guard |publisher=Washington State Military Department|url = http://mil.wa.gov/wsg-home|website = mil.wa.gov|access-date = November 24, 2015}}
  • Washington Youth Academy{{cite web |url=http://www.cgyca.org/ |title=Capital Guardian Youth ChalleNGe Academy |author= |website=www.cgyca.org |access-date=May 5, 2018 }}
  • State & Federal Support Services

These divisions use state and federal resources to perform homeland defense, homeland security, and emergency mitigation, preparedness, response and recovery activities.{{Cite web|title = About Us |publisher=Washington State Military Department|url = http://mil.wa.gov/about-us|website = mil.wa.gov|access-date = November 24, 2015}}

Brigadier General Gent Walsh has served as adjutant general and director of the Washington Military Department since June 29, 2024.{{cite web | last=Siemandel | first=Joseph | title=Governor appoints Brig. Gen. Gent Welsh as the next adjutant general | website=Washington State Military Department | date=June 21, 2024 | url=https://mil.wa.gov/news/governor-appoints-brig-gen-gent-welsh-as-the-next-adjutant-general | access-date=June 21, 2024}}

Washington State Emergency Operations Center

File:Pence at Washington EOC.jpg at Washington State Emergency Operations Center during the 2020 coronavirus pandemic]]

The Washington State Emergency Operations Center is located at Camp Murray, under the Military Department's Emergency Management Division.{{cite web|url=https://mil.wa.gov/emergency-management-division |title=Emergency Management Division|publisher= Washington State Military Department |work=official website|access-date=March 7, 2020}} The 28,000 square foot facility, occupied since mid 1998, is built on rollers to withstand earthquakes.{{citation|title=Washington Military Department Information Booklet & Media Guide |publisher=Washington Military Department |page=10|url=https://mil.wa.gov/asset/5ba41fb2b84a8}}{{cite web|title=About the Emergency Operations Center|publisher=Washington Military Department Emergency Management Division|url=https://mil.wa.gov/emd-about-us|access-date=March 24, 2020}} The Emergency Operations Center was activated for the 2012 Washington wildfires,{{citation|title=Gov. Gregoire Extends State of Emergency, Burn Ban to Include All Counties in WA State |publisher=U.S. Federal News Service|date=October 9, 2012}} 2015 Washington wildfires, 2016 Washington wildfires,{{citation|title=State of Emergency (Wildfires)|publisher=Targeted News Service|date=August 23, 2016}} 2018 Washington wildfires, and for the 2020 coronavirus pandemic.{{cite press release |title=Vice President Pence, Congresswoman Herrera Beutler Visit Pierce County Readiness Center and Washington State Emergency Operations Center |date=March 6, 2020 |publisher=Office of U.S. Rep. Jaime Herrera Beutler |url=https://herrerabeutler.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=401804}}

See also

References

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